The Town of Paonia is again seeking bids for sandblasting removal of a failed liner from the one million-gallon Clock water treatment plant on Lamborn Mesa after awarding a bid of $78,364 to Eckert-based Grand Mesa Mobile Dustless Blasting. When contacted by the town that it was awarded the bid, Grand Mesa Mobile informed the town that it was not available, said Public Works Director Travis Loberg.

Two other bids, one for $150,000 from Denver-based Lightning Mobile, and one for $300,259 from Fruita-based Western Colorado Mobile Dustless Blasting, were rejected at the June 12 meeting in favor of the lower bid.

Cost of removing the old lining is part of the total cost the town faces in getting the tank back on line. The board has placed a priority on the project in light of a record low water year.

At the June 26 meeting, trustees approved $550,000 from the Water reserve account, currently at $1.645 million, for the project. While the town has funds remaining in low-interest loans from the original improvement projects to cover associated costs, town finance officer Cindy Jones said the town is short the cost of actual construction.

Because the State of Colorado is requiring the town to upgrade operations credentials to run the upper Lamborn Mesa water plant from a "C" level to a "B" level, the board also approved $10,314 for labor costs to the Water Fund, and $2,394 to upgrade the Public Works Director's license.

Two of the four marijuana questions on the November ballot were narrowly approved by voters in the City of Delta. Measure 2F allows the establishment of medical marijuana centers. Measure 2H permits the establishment of medical marijuana cultivation, testing, research and manufacturing facilities.